But subsidies not the answer
The Association of European Airlines (AEA) has called on governments to step in to combat a continuing fall in global traffic.
AEA member airlines reported traffic in most regions down 3.9% in January and 8.8% in February, year-on-year.
Factoring in a 29-day February last year, the overall market decline was 4.6%, 10% lower than the 4-5% growth see in previous years.
But the AEA said state aid was not the solution.
"Subsidies have no place in modern-day air transport, nor do the competitive distortions they create," AEA secretary general said.
Mr Schulte-Strathaus said the airline industry suffered from "structural deficiencies" including a lack of market-driven behaviour, inadequate infrastructure and barriers to consolidation.
"While the airlines are facing an unprecedented deterioration in business conditions, the way the industry is structured leaves them very little room for manoeuvre," he said.
Only traffic to the Middle East and Africa showed growth. European short haul and North Atlantic markets all underperformed, the AEA said.
The AEA said capacity cuts had failed to match falling demand, resulting in declining load factors. In Europe, the Far East and North Atlantic load was done 1.9%, 1.2% and 0.7% respectively.
"Load factor losses of this magnitude would normally signal a substantial effect on profitability," the AEA said.
The AEA figures echo those released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) this week.
IATA, which represents the global airline industry, reported accelerated capacity cuts as airlines struggle to maintain load.
www.aea.be